CLIL Network for Languages in Education (CLILNetLE)

The project aims to develop a shared conceptualisation and research agenda for the investigation of bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies in Content and language integrated learning (CLIL).

The term CLIL describes the teaching of non-language subjects through a foreign language, typically in mainstream school education. One of the big advantages of CLIL is that it helps students to learn to use a foreign language for professional and academic purposes, alongside their native language. This ability encompasses both competences in doing the subject, including acquiring relevant knowledge, and in using the appropriate language. The term to describe this ability is bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies.

This project aims to 

• provide an accessible collection of standardised research instruments and research training
• identify patterns of use
• development and existing good practices in terms of supporting bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies at school, focusing on grades 5-13
• disseminate information on supporting the development of bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies in CLIL classes. 

Our research network encompasses expertise from various fields, including language education, CLIL, subject education, digital media, and multilingual schools from researchers and teacher educators from across Europe and international partners in Canada and Hong Kong. In this way, we want to gain a comprehensive understanding of bi- and multilingual disciplinary literacies and to develop a common research agenda. 

The specific objectives include 

• providing surveys of CLIL practice with regard to bi/multilingual disciplinary literacies
• developing standardized research tools and training resources
• identifying best educational practices
• disseminating our insights to educational, academic, industry, and public stakeholders. 

These activities are organised in five Working Groups.